Letters -- Published Oct. 12, 2012

Gov. Mitt Romney recently suggested, at a $50,000-a-plate dinner, that America is divided into two classes, the makers, and the 47 percent who he explained were takers and self-described victims.

Gov. Mitt Romney recently suggested, at a $50,000-a-plate dinner, that America is divided into two classes, the makers, and the 47 percent who he explained were takers and self-described victims.

Beneficiaries of Social Security, Medicare and Pell grants don't see themselves as "victims." Mitt's concept of two distinct groups leading parallel lives, one dependent on the other, strikes me as a bit strange. His one-dimensional view of the world doesn't reflect reality.

We are all both takers and makers. In the span of a lifetime, we move back and forth between these categories and sometimes occupy both at the same time. In our youth, for example, we are moochers and not producers in Romney's scheme.

During our working lives, we pay Social Security and other taxes. We support our grandparents with the expectation that our grandchildren will afford us the same benefit. In essence, we are paying it forward.

But seniors also pay income taxes, sales taxes and real estate taxes. They are both takers and makers. Even though they have no school-age children, they pay for education. In effect, they are paying it backward. They reimburse the community for the costs of their children's education, as well as their own.

Mitt's concept of takers and makers allows some people, especially those who enjoy extraordinarily low tax rates, to nevertheless wax self-righteous about the rest of us.

Mickey McGuire

Tracy

Where is the president's foreign policy? An ambassador, a diplomat and two Navy SEALs were killed. The embassy was burned. The White House ignored it, then lied about the situation. The media falsely reported it, as requested by the White House.

Where's the president? He was flying around on our dime, campaigning as he has done most of his term. In between trips, he plays golf, basketball, appears on TV with Letterman, Jay-Z, "The View," etc. He says he cares about the middle class but keeps company with the rich and famous.

"I'm cool, I'm popular, they love me," he says. The narcissist is so busy pretending to be a Hollywood celebrity that he doesn't have time or interest in doing his job. He refuses to meet with members of Congress or world leaders. He doesn't want to be the president, except for the "perks."

The mainstream media has such a liberal bias and never reports the truth. They obsessively support Obama. If you really want to know about his early years, his liberal associates, his liberal pastor, check out the film "2016" and the book "The Amateur." He ran on hope and change. He hopes he can change America. You are not going to like it. Let's get rid of him before he does any more damage.

Alice Goldstein

Stockton

Rep. Jerry McNerney has been a hard-fighting advocate to his constituents is his district and especially veterans. When he is invited to veterans' activities we can always count on him or his representative to attend and keep us advised on up-to-date legislation.

He is always visible and accessible at the many events in his district. He is personable and easy to converse with on issues and problems that are of concern to many of us veterans, such as the construction of a new VA facility, expediting the backlog of disability claims, or issues with the Veterans Medical Center in Palo Alto.

McNerney has been working for the best interest of the district. I encourage everyone to re-elect him to continue being a voice for veterans in our district.

Rick Dimas

Stockton

Rave reviews for Maestro Peter Jaffe and the Stockton Symphony for their first pops concert of the new season. And despite the charming Red Harlequin, the dazzling acrobatics, the breathtaking feats of the aerialists, and the body-defying, hand-balancing act of the "Gold Men," Darek and Jarek, our charismatic maestro and his symphony were the stars of the show. Bravo!

Anne Struck

Stockton

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